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Devil Summoner, Children of Mana and a bunch of PSP games.

By Anoop Gantayat

The first couple of weeks of March saw yet another mega super release flood. Big titles included the latest Devil Summoner, a new Gundam game and Children of Mana, which coincided with the release of the DS Lite.

The PSP had another big release period, with Rockman Rockman, Valkyrie Profile, Sakura Wars and Tokimeki Memorial contributing to a list of 15 titles. Alas, many of the games are pure ports.

The following games were released between 02.26.2006 and 03.10.2006. Follow the links for more details. Please note that some of the links lead to Japanese content.

The magazine review scores listed with each game are, in most cases, out of 10. Dengeki PlayStation has scores out of 100 and also gives scores to some games using an S, A, B, C, D, E letter system with S highest and E lowest.

From Russia With Love is set in the 60s Bond era and tasks James Bond with protecting the latest in hot Bond girls, Tachiana. You'll make use of the latest spy gadgets as you work through car chase scenes and intense gun fights.

You play as Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th in this latest Devil Summoner game and must get to the bottom of a series of strange, interconnected incidents. In addition to summoning monsters into battle, you'll also use monsters to investigate areas of the world that Raidou cannot access.

Resources from nine Gundam productions are featured in this game, going all the way back to the original Gundam and continuing on to more modern fare like Z Gundam. You take control of a classic character as you work through storylines set in each production. Over 50 Mobile Suits and pilots are included in the game. Also included are modes where you raise an original character and a versus mode allowing for two player fights.

Narnia Kuni Monogatari Dai-Isshou Lion to Majo AKA: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (USA)D3 Publisher (PUB)

03.02.2006

PS2

SLPS-25626

7140

Action, Adventure

The PS2 take on "Lion to Majou" includes scenes from the movie in between 3D action-based stages featuring Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. You're free to switch control between the four siblings, with the CPU taking control of the remaining three.

Neo Angelique is a new entry in the Angelique series of boys love games from Koei. You play as a young girl who takes on evil demos called the Tanatos. Pairing up with male characters like Rayne, Nyx, J.D. and Hyuga, you'll take on missions and develope a romantic relationship.

You take over a household in this historical action game from Genki. You'll have to show your toughness, not just by kicking ass, but by protecting the streets and solving crimes. Famous historical figures appear in the game.

The latest Pop'N Music home conversion features an arcade mode that mirrors the arcade game, along with versus, challenge and two player battle modes. Mini games and a gallery mode are also included. Over fifty songs made the cut for this title.

This entry in the Sotsugyou series places you in the role of a teacher at Seika Girls Junior High. You'll supervise the growth of five girls over a year-long period, leading them to graduation. You can attempt to earn the affections of 11 assistant teachers, as well as pairs consisting of each student with her mom. When not at class, you're free to visit your students' homes.

This real time strategy game is set in the Sengoku period and puts two giant armies against one another. Each of the game's five generals has his own set of scenarios, with the storyline straying from reality based on the results of battle.

This sea-based simulation is set between the 15th and 17th centuries. Your goal is to take control of the world's oceans. You can select from 34 ship types and customize as you wish. The DS version makes use of stylus-basd controlls on the bottom screen and includes a four player ocean race mini game.

This latest Doraemon game is based in the world of the Spring 2006 movie of the same name. An RPG featuring card-based battles, you'll make use of four types of cards as you face off against dinosaurs: character cards, dinosaur cards, "secret tool" cards and power-up cards. The game includes a wireless play mode that allows for battles and card exchange.

Narnia Kuni Monogatari Dai-Isshou Lion to Majo AKA: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (USA)D3 Publisher (PUB)

03.02.2006

NDS

NTR-P-A2WJ

5040

Action, RPG

The DS adaptation of the first Narnia movie (Japanese theatrical release on 3/4) has players alternating between Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy as the four siblings adventure through the strange world of Narnia. The stylus is used cast magic. As you clear the game's 35 stages, you earn new skills.

Square Enix at last returns to the world of Mana, with this first DS entry. You select one of four characters as the main character, each with different capabilities. The game includes multiplayer cooperative play. Animated scenes sprinkled throughout the game were produced by Production I.G.

Nintendo has given the 1998 arcade Puzzloop game new life on the DS. The DS adaptation uses touch-based controls and adds quest, challenge, check-mate and versus modes. Support for DS download play is included.

Hudson has brought back one of role playing's landmark titles. The DS version of Tengai Makyo II includes everything from the 1992 PC Engine Super CD original, including all the event scenes and voices. The stylus is used to select enemies during battle and to select your destination when moving about on maps. The D-pad can also be used, of course.